Using a TENS Machine in Labor
Average Read Time: 3-4 minutes
To the left is a client of mine who recently used a TENS machine during her labor (see the white cord? That’s the TENS!) She shared with me:
“The TENS machine is a great way to help manage pain from early labor to active labor. I would recommend it to anyone looking for alternative relief during their labor!”
Want to know more about TENS machines? Keep reading!
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This is a small machine that sends electrical currents to a specific part of your body via electrodes. The currents travel on/near your nerves in order to change your perception of pain, either in that area or in another part of your body.
This idea is not new - there are images dating from 46 CE of a person standing on an electric eel to help them navigate pain! TENS machines have been around since the 1970s, so there has been quite a bit of time for them to be well documented and researched (see below - I’ve posted some great studies!).
While there is still more research to be done, many scientists think that part of the reason the TENS machine works for pain relief is that it helps your body create its own natural endorphins - nature’s pain relieving hormone. Another way a TENS is thought to work is that it activates the gate-control theory of pain. This theory states that the brain can only tolerate so much pain at one time, so if you introduce a pain somewhere different from your original pain, it will trick your mind into focusing on the electrical currents. The other pain you’re experiencing will lessen.
TENS machines are used in a wide variety of ways, including: osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and tendinitis. However, the way I use it most often is to support a laboring person during childbirth!
Childbirth? Electrical Currents? Leila - say more!
During early labor, a laboring person can put four TENS electrodes onto their lower back. I always tell my clients to start low at the beginning of labor, because we can make it more intense as labor gets more intense! On many TENS units, there’s a “boost” button, so at the beginning of a contraction, the laboring person will press “boost”, which will send extra currents to their lower back for the duration of their contraction. Once the contraction is winding down, they press “boost” again, lessening the electrical currents in between contractions.
Research has shown that using a TENS machine in early labor has big benefits:
Lower pain levels
Lower levels of cortisol (our stress hormone)
Higher satisfaction with childbirth overall
Lower length of active phase of labor (dilating from 6-8 centimeters)
I cannot stress enough that a TENS machine can really help navigate the sensations of labor from the beginning! Here are a few other reasons I educate my clients about TENS machine usage before childbirth begins:
Can help delay use of medical pain management, such as an epidural
Can be used at home and in the hospital (and the car ride between the two!)
There are no risks to baby
The only risk to the birthing person is a slight chance of skin irritation
One interesting thing to note: in one research trial from 2011, laboring people felt more pain relief even when the TENS machine was turned off. This suggests that the TENS provides mental as well as physical pain relief for a laboring person. This makes sense to me - labor is an endurance sport, one that requires rhythm, ritual and relaxation to navigate. Giving someone a tool can help them feel more in control of their labor - and empowerment is something that all laboring people deserve!
I have two TENS machines that I lend out to clients, and both come from a brand that is designed specifically for labor. There are other, cheaper TENS machines available commercially. HOWEVER, if you choose to buy your own, make sure to read the manual first! I had a client whose TENS machine automatically turned off after 20 minutes! Imagine that happening in the middle of a contraction - it completely threw off her rhythm!
Here are a few to explore for yourself:
Elle Tens - this is the labor specific one I have. You can rent it directly from their website, or purchase for yourself.
Etekcity - this was recommended to a client of mine by her homebirth midwife. It worked extremely well during early labor
One thing to note: please do not use a TENS machine in these situations:
If you have an implanted device, such as a pacemaker, consult with your healthcare provider.
Do not put the electrodes over open wounds or areas with sensitive or damaged skin
Do not use it on your eyes or place electrodes over your carotid arteries.
When you’re utilizing the shower or bath during labor
Interested in using a TENS for your labor? Have your own TENS success story to share? Contact me here! I’d love to share other voices about TENS and labor support!
Citations:
Cleveland Clinic - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
TENSUnit - A Brief History of Electrotherapy and Its Uses for Pain Relief
